Oleksandr Usyk caused controversy when he kissed a crucifix during his May win over Tyson Fury and has now revealed the deep meaning behind it
Oleksandr Usyk has revealed the crucifix he kissed after the seventh round of his first clash with Tyson Fury was a gift from a Greek monk.
The Ukrainian outpointed the Gypsy King back in May to become undisputed heavyweight champion. Usyk, 37, defends the WBA, WBC and WBO titles against Fury this weekend in Saudi. But the scene of ‘The Cat’ calling for the crucifix at the end of the seventh round of their first fight became iconic.
Usyk, a devout orthodox Christian, kissed the cross before going on to turn the fight around against Fury. The Ukrainian hurt Fury in the eight, forced a count in the ninth when he had the Brit falling all over the ring and then saw out the final three rounds to win on points.
“This cross was a present from the chief monk in one of the Greek monasteries, where I go,” he said. “This cross gives me strength and leads me to victory. I feel the love of the God of the Father from Paradise.” Usyk may be an Olympic gold medallist and an undisputed champion at both cruiserweight and heavyweight but it is clear he still takes strength from his faith.
“I see myself as a man who sins, a sinner,” said Usyk. “And I need help to overcome my sins. What were my sins in that fight? The main sin was that I hit him in the face.” Usyk’s humbleness of his own achievements may be best described by his reaction to the arrival of Lennox Lewis to his Spanish training camp ahead of this weekend’s rematch with Fury here in Riyadh.
The Ukrainian became the first man since Lewis in 1999 to win the undisputed heavyweight crown when he beat Fury in May but the current king was in awe to have his predecessor in his company. “It was great,” said Usyk. “Once I watched his fight on TV. Now, Lennox Lewis is in my camp, watching my sparring. I said, ‘Wow, hey Lennox. You miss boxing, you miss preparing?’ ‘Yeah, of course.’
Learn more
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are set to lock horns again on December 21 with the Brit attempting to avenge his defeat by the Ukrainian in May. Victory for Fury could also set up a huge domestic showdown with bitter rival Anthony Joshua next year
“Listen, it was great. I made a poster. I said, ‘Hey champ, please will you sign for both of my sons’. The father of my wife said: ‘Oh my God, Lennox Lewis, please get a signature and a photo’.” Maybe Lewis should have asked for Usyk’s signature. “Just my t-shirt,” he said, with a grin.
It is extreme humbleness for Usyk not to consider himself a legend. He’s an Olympic gold medallist, world and European champion as an amateur, and the undisputed king at both cruiserweight and heavyweight without a defeat in 22 professional fights. And obviously an inspiration to those in his homeland trying to fight off Russia.“Legend,” he said. “It’s very high-class. I don’t like it. “I like to just be a simple guy. I don’t want other people to put me as an icon. I don’t need it.”